My goal in reviewing some of the works I’ve read related to health ministry is to have a record somewhere of what helped and what stirred my heart and imagination, and to gather some ideas. They might not necessarily be about how readable, well-written, or “good” a book is, although those will probably come up. Right now, I’m looking to “dream.” So even if they’re not all that comprehensive, I hope they will be useful to anyone else exploring and “dreaming” along with me!
When I first picked up Abigail Rian Evans’ book entitled The Healing Church: Practical Programs for Health Ministries, I didn’t quite know what to expect. It isn’t explicitly about faith community nursing, although a large chunk of her book addresses that area of medicine and ministry. It was also written in 1999, which is more than 20 years ago. Medicine is a fast growing area of study. But the thing is, health ministry is still not a topic I hear of as being common in community based churches. Sure, I’ve heard of faith based facilities that serve people who are in need or impoverished, but this is a very different model of health ministry than the one I’m currently pursuing. So I wanted to see if it would pertain to my area of study.
There were two quotes in the preface of the book that arrested my attention:
“…the contemporary understanding of healing and healers emphasizes disease and illness rather than health promotion and illness prevention”(ix).
And
“… the church can function as a health institution and a healing community by basing its ministry on a broader definition of health as wholeness, sickness as brokenness, and healers as those persons who assist us toward health” (x).
These words rang into my soul. Part of the mission behind starting health ministries in churches and in the body of Christ is to help people toward wholeness, toward living in shalom, in right relationship with God and with His created world.
So I sped through the preface, so excited… then felt immediately discouraged by the first chapter, because it’s all about the history of health ministry and the church, the philosophical and theological movements of the church that currently impact why health ministry is the way it is, and things like bioethics and blah blah blah. Which is TERRIBLE of me. I know it’s important, but honestly, I just wanted to get to the “getting your hands dirty” kind of stuff. BUT if you enjoy learning the “why” of things, then I think it’s a fine chapter. Perhaps I’ll reread this in future when I’ve learned to slow down a bit!
The rest of the book addresses why it’s a ripe time for health ministries, parish nursing, the different types of healing and health ministries currently being utilized in the church and what they are, and a few ministries that existed at the time she wrote this book that could be resources for those looking to enter into this field.
It’s not a terribly long book, it’s around 200 pages. But I realized each topic she touched on could be its own book. She addresses some of the spiritual healing and devotional practices of the church, e.g. prayer, the laying of hands, sacraments, etc. And I had never really thought of something like Baptism as being part of the ministry of healing. She addresses the healing nature of these practices individually, and in the beginning of her chapter on “Devotional, Sacramental, and Liturgical Practices,” she asserts that “the foundation of liturgical healing ministry is a theology that embodies and promotes wholistic healing… God’s power and presence can heal and sustain the midst of sickness and suffering and provide assurance that even in the face of sin, which may result in sickness, God is with us in our suffering, the ‘wounded healer’”(70).
This particular chapter made me curious. I did not grow up in denominations or churches that had a strong emphasis on the liturgical and sacramental practices that she details. Communion and baptism are really the only ones I have any sense of familiarity with, but these were done relatively infrequently. She even addresses things like exorcisms, which… is weird (LOL!). Although I know our church does hold baptismal services, I would be curious to experience what it would be like to go through services regularly that emphasize the healing and sacred practices in this chapter. And what would it look like as a faith community nurse and/or health minister to enact some of these practices?
The chapters I was most excited to read were on educational programs, support and advocacy programs in the church, how the church could help deliver wholistic care, parish nursing, and how to start a health ministry. Evans’ practical examples of possible health ministries, their roles in their faith communities, and her understanding of how and why they could fit into a church were inspiring and humbling. She emphasized how well the church fits into the “niche” of helping people with lifestyle changes that could enhance their health and wellness, the communal and collaborative nature of starting and maintaining a health ministry, and why certain programs may or may not work.
As I’m still in the beginning stages of leaning into this area of medicine and ministry, there are a few things I’ve taken from Evans’ work that I want to work on for the coming year. The first is that she encourages anyone who is interested in forming a health ministry to begin with prayer and Bible study. She then emphasizes the need to know 1) the ministries that are already in the church that can be considered health-related, 2) finding those members in the church who might be good resources, volunteers, and experts you can rely on, and 3) collaborating with your pastor and staff regarding the direction and projects that are most needed in your church.
Learning to take time to pray and read scripture is more and more of a struggle as I get older. I’ve heard this from people before (is it weird that I slightly resent that?) but it really is incredibly real. Most of my days, I’m on autopilot. Making Jesus a part of the Autopilot mode isn’t actually a good thing either. Autopilot means I’m not thinking or living intentionally. I’ve been much more consistent in reading scripture regularly (I still miss PLENTY of days, but I’m getting better). Once I’ve finished reading the Bible this time around, the next thing I want to try is reading smaller chunks of scripture and responding by journaling and writing. This used to be a pretty regular practice for me, but it’s definitely gone by the wayside. I may also look into bible studies specific to health ministry or on theologies of health and healing.
One thing that I’ve always struggled with is “networking.” I addressed in a previous entry that I’ve been trying to lean into and respond to the possible urgings that God might be placing in my heart, including ones that make me uncomfortable. Most of the time, I’m most uncomfortable when those urgings include reaching out to people. But in reading this book, I am more and more convinced of the need to collaborate with and learn alongside people who are interested in health ministry, as well as work alongside the pastor(s) and leaders of the church in order to make this successful. Which sounds like a “no duh”, but since I’m naturally inclined to be that kid who does the group’s work by themselves, saying out loud that I’ll make sure to be a “team player” is something I need to remind myself of every day!
A peculiar thing happened as I read this book that I had trouble understanding for a little while. I would start to read, come across an inspiring idea, then find myself internally trembling and needing to put the book down and walk away. It took me several days, but after a while I decided to sit down and think about why this might be happening. I was experiencing a variety of emotions: frustration, sadness, excitement, joy. I felt kind of like a child with a new plaything and no one to show it to. I tried to express this to my husband, who let me just talk at him to figure it out, and I was surprised to hear from him that it made sense. I want to be involved in a health ministry, but I’m not, really. I want to try things out but I can’t. I have so much creative and anticipatory energy that I have nowhere to place. Reading, research, writing, all of these practices are helpful for getting out the creative juices, but I have felt stymied by my lack of experiences and lack of an “in.” The events I’ve involved myself into, like the health clinic in Bolingbrook and the grief workshop at my church, have opened my eyes to necessary ministries, but they are just me sticking my toes in the pool. There’s so much more I can do.
As I write this and reflect on Evans’ work, I think about what I hope to accomplish through this online forum. Part of it is I want to make this a forum where I can also do ministry. For anyone thinking to do what I want to do, or are curious about how to implement it, I want this to be a place where I can put my genuine questions, experiences, thoughts, and fears. Even if/when I find myself where I am actually doing what I envision myself doing, I want this to be a place to process and share how’s and why’s. I want to be able to display how God has worked, where Jesus has shown up, what it looks like to fail or succeed, whatever that might mean.
Is this where God wants me? Is this where I’m meant to go? I feel a constant tug and pull. Life is a complex web of so many different priorities and influences.
For now, I will leave the last few lines of Evans’ book here, a prayer for anyone who sees the need and feels the call;
“May God who calls us, who equips us, and who heals us empower us for this ministry – to heed the cries of the sick and suffering, whether of body, mind, or spirit, and to preach and live the liberating word of Jesus Christ” (231).
For anyone looking to read this book, take a look here: https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B084Z6KLCZ&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_TZE1KHVAY8PEWJ66HNHC